TROUBLE SHOOTING WORKS AT SUB-STATIONS

{ Ref. Circular No. TD ( T & D ) / 2236 Dated 17/01/1987 }

S.N.

Nature of Trouble

Work to be Attended

Non working of bell

a) Loose connection
b) Disturbing of bell adjustment
c) Burning of bell coil.
d) Alarm D.C. fuse blown.
e) Relay self sealing not proper (i.e. Aux. relay faulty)

Failure of trip healthy indication

a) Control circuit fuse blown. / Indication bulb fused.

b) Loose connection in trip C.C. circuit.
c) Resistance found open circuited in trip ckt.
d) Alignment of Aux. Contacts of C.B. disturbed.
e) Trip coil open.
f) Low air pressure.
g) Low gas pressure.

Non working of O.L.T.C. control

a) Failure of A.C. supply.

b) Failure of Aux. Transformer 220 / 110 V.
c) Contact problem in Lower / Raise button.
d) Contact problem in Lower / Raise button.
e) Tripping of miniature circuit breaker of A.C. motor.
f) Phase sequence is reverse.

Non auto start of compressors

a) Pressure switch is faulty.

b) Loose connection.
c) Starter / Thermal O/L relay not reset.

Non tripping of breaker (Protn.trip)

a) Loose connection.
b) Open circuit of trip coil.
c) Mechanical trouble.
d) Alignment of Aux. contracts of C.B. disturbed.

Non tripping of breaker (Manual trip)

a) Position of Remote / Local switch incorrect.

b) Loose connection.
c) mechanical trouble.
d) Alignment of Aux. contacts of C.B. disturbed.

Noise in C.T.

a) Open circuit of C.T. secondary.

b) Loose connection in C.T. secondary circuit.
c) Earthing of tan delta terminal disconnected.

Spring charging motor does not start

a) Failure of A.C. supply.

b) Failure of limit switch.
c) Defective motor.
d) Failure of A.C. converter.

Non closing of breaker

a) Loose connection.
b) Open circuit in closing coil.
c) Mechanical trouble.
d) Alignment of Aux. Contacts of C.B.disturbed.
e) Spring not charged / Air pressure low.
f) Master trip relay not reset.
g) Position of Remote / Local switch incorrect.
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S.N.

Nature of Trouble

Work to be Attended

10

Flash over & damage to the wiring

a) Failure of insulation.
b) Short circuit due to lizards / rats etc.
c) Poor earthing system.

11

Tripping of transformer on differential

a) Transformer internal fault.

b) Failure of L.A.
c) Loose connection in CT circuit.
d) Providing improper class for CT secondary.
e) Failure of C.T.
f) Failure of insulators within differential zone.
g) Magnatising in-rush current in case of DDT relay
& faulty cards in DTH31, DTH32.
h) Failure of L.V. cable box.

12

Breaker tripping without fault

a) D.C. earth leakage.

13

Tripping of transformer on buchholz

a) Due to oil surge / Transformer internal fault.

b) Due to moisture / water inside the connection
box.
c) Improper operation of buchholz relay.
d) Shorting of terminal due to failure of bakelite
plates.
e) Low oil level.f) D.C. earth leakage.

14

Low oil level indication on panel

appearing continuously

a) KD.C. earth leakage.

b) Sticking of low oil level pointer.
c) Rain water inside the connection box.

15

Flag not resetting

a) Mechanical defect.b) Command persisting.

16

Non resetting of bell

a) Accept switch faulty.

b) D.C. earth leakage.
c) Aux. relay faulty.

17

Non resetting of indication.

a) D.C. earth leakage / Initiating contact short.

b) Push button faulty.

18

Capacitor bank tripping

a) Faulty capacitor unit.

b) Blowing of H.T. fuse of capacitor unit.

19

Continuous ringing of bell

a) D.C. earth leakage.

b) Adjustment of Aux. relay contact is disturbed.

20

Mal-operation of relay

a) Defects in relay.
b) D.C. earth leakage.

21

Battery charger not working

a) Failure of transformer
b) Failure of diode.
c) Failure of A.C. supply.
d) Switch faulty.
e) Ph. Sequence incorrect.

22

Transformer cooling fans auto start not

working.

a) Defects in temperature indicator.

b) Defects in contactor.
c) Loose connection.

S.N.

Nature of Trouble

Work to be Attended

23

Semaphore not working

a) Defects in Aux. switch.

b) Loose connection.
c) Semaphore coil burnt.

24

VCB trips but fault not cleared

a) Check push-rod connection.

b) Failure of vacuum.

BATTERY TROUBLE SHOOTING

Battery Troubles

Symptoms / Cause

Remedies

Over Charging

1) Excessive gassing
2) Falling of active materials from
positive plates.
3) Buckling of plates.
4) Increased temperature
5) Oxidation of battery links.

1) Reduce the charging

rate till the specific
gravity attains value 1.2
2) Add Distilled water.

Under Charging

1)
2)
3)
4)
5)

Increase the charging rate

till the specific gravity
attains value 1.2
Remove & Clean in warm
water

Loss of Capacity

Abnormal drop of voltage during a

normal discharge without
corresponding rise in temperature
due to :
1) Cloggin of the pores of the lead
spontge impurities.
2) Contraction of the pores of the lead
sponge impurities.
3) Loss of active material from grid.
4) Formation of Sulphate
5) Loss of electrolyte.

Contact manufacturer
(Needs Special Treatment)

Corrosion of Plates

Impure Electrolyte

1) Remove Electrolyte.
2) Flush with distilled water.
3)Refill with pure electrolyte.

Fracture &
Buckling of plates

1)
2)
3)
4)

Excess or unequal expansion

Discharge carried too far.
Discharge at too rapid rate
Unequal distribution of current
over plates.
5) Defective plates.
6) Plates exposed to direct Sun
7) Direct discharge.

1) Reduce the charge rate

2)Replace the defective
plates.

Sheding of active
Material

1) Overcharging of plates.
2) Charging done at high rate
3) Defective material
4) Material improperly applied on plates.

Charging & Discharging limits

should be maintained to 2.4
& 1.8 volts respectively and
1.22 to 1.30Sp. Gravity limits.

Low specific gravity

Lighter colour of plates.
Reversal of cell voltage
Buckling of plates.
Oxidation of battery links.

Battery Troubles

Symptoms / Cause

Remedies

Excessive Heating

1) Sulphation at initial stage

can be cured by low rate
repeated charging &
discharging.
2) Sulphatation at advanced
stage contact
manufacturer for
special treatment.
Charge the weak cell
extremely by Booster.

Hardening
Negative in air

Lighter colour of plates all over or

in spots due to 1) Under charging
2) Too stronger too weak acid
3) Over discharge 4) Local action
5) Short circuits 6) Too rapid discharge
7) Plates exposed to air
on account of Evaporation of
electrolyte
When an undercharge or weak cell is
in series with good ones, its discharge
is ended before the others, which over
power the defective cell & reverse it.
1) Perceptible gassing even when
battery is idle.
2) Abnormal gassing during charge
3) Reduction of capacity, due to
decomposition of electrolyte, due to
metallic impurity or the grid being in
contact with the active material &
forming a local voltaic couple.
Oxidation & heating in air or
exposed Plates.

Loss of voltage

Excessive Sulphation

Short Circuit

1) Low specific gravity

2) Rapid loss of capacity after charge
3 Low open circuit voltage due to
Buckling. lodging of some conducting
Material between plates & around.

Reversal of
Negative Plates

Internal discharger
local Action.

Use pure electrolyte &

keep plates well covered.

1) Cover the plates properly

with distilled water
2) Continue overcharge at
low rate.
Sulphation at initial stage
can be cured by low rate
repeated charging &
discharging Sulphation at
advance stage :
Contact manufacturer for
special treatment.
Remove shorts & Use new
separators.

BATTERY IMPORTANCE IN SUB-STATION

The battery considered as the heart of sub-station, needs utmost care in its preservation,
maintenance and up keeping because in all network system / equipments/sub-station control and
protection system is operated on DC supply due to its consistency. In sub-station main DC source is
available from station AC supply which is converted DC supply through rectifier. If main source (station
supply) fails battery plays as a backup DC source according to its Ah capacity and protect the equipments.
Main Features :
The battery room may be ideally located adjacent to the control room, with ample
ventilation added with exhaust fans. In the commonly used lead acid batteries the Electrolyte (sulphuric
acid) may be maintained at its optimum temp. Care may be taken not to exceed its temp. beyond 50 o
C.The voltage of battery is determined by no. of cells whereas capacity is determined by no. of plates
and quantity of acid. Floating a battery at a higher voltage will also impair the life of the battery.Sulphation
of +ve or ve plates occurs due to insufficient charging or over discharging or when it is under continuously
uncharged condition , or when floating voltage is much below optimum voltage (i.e. for lead acid cell 2
volts and for alkaline cell 1.2 volts.)
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